In a remarkable incident in the Pozanti district of Adana, Turkey, a woman was hit by a train while taking a selfie near the Belemedik Nature Park.
The event, which involved a group of women posing for photos mere inches from the train tracks, resulted in the woman being struck on her hand by the speeding train.
The incident occurred as the group of friends gathered at the scenic location to capture images. As a train approached, the woman, positioned perilously close to the rails, raised her arm, displaying an ‘OK’ sign with her fingers. It was at this moment that the train collided with her hand.
Surveillance footage captured the harrowing moment, showing the woman abruptly pulling her hand back in pain. She almost fell over from the shock and agony of the impact. After the incident, her friends assisted her, with one of them immediately coming to her aid. The footage concludes with the injured woman being comforted by her companions as she examines her hand.
The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, was subsequently taken to a local hospital by her friends. Following a thorough examination and treatment, she was released from the hospital. Her survival after such a close encounter has been deemed remarkable, considering the perilous nature of the situation.
This incident has sparked a renewed warning from local authorities regarding the dangers of taking selfies in risky locations. The mayor of Pozanti, Mustafa Çay, expressed concern over the frequency of such accidents and emphasized the need for heightened awareness and caution among tourists and photography enthusiasts. He indicated that measures are being contemplated in collaboration with the Republic of Turkey State Railways (TCDD) to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The trend of taking selfies in dangerous settings has led to numerous accidents and fatalities worldwide. The list of selfie-related injuries and deaths from 2008 to 2021 includes incidents involving falls, drowning, transportation accidents, electrocution, and wildlife attacks. These incidents have predominantly occurred in high-risk areas such as bodies of water, cliffs, train tracks, and hazardous buildings.
The phenomenon of taking risky selfies has been a topic of concern for safety experts and authorities globally. Union Pacific, a major railway company in the United States, initiated a rail safety campaign to address this issue. The campaign aims to educate the public about the dangers of taking selfies near train tracks, highlighting tragic accidents that have resulted in fatalities.
In Romania, a similar incident occurred where an 18-year-old girl, Anna Ursu, died while attempting to take a selfie on a moving train. She and her friend climbed atop the train without realizing the danger posed by overhead electric wires. Ursu’s tragic death was a result of a high-voltage electric shock.
In Italy, a man faced backlash for taking a selfie at a train platform while emergency services attended to a woman who had been hit by a train. This incident underscored the ethical concerns and insensitivity associated with taking selfies at accident sites.
These events serve as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with the pursuit of unique and adventurous selfies. They underscore the importance of safety and awareness while engaging in photography near hazardous locations.
